The Paspaley Pearl: New local addition to the luxury expedition cruise ship market

A new superyacht belonging to a well known Darwin family has quietly berthed at Fort Hill Wharf and is about to join the growing luxury expedition cruise ship market.

The Paspaley Pearl. The Paspaley families new expedition cruise ship tied up at Fort Hill Wharf

A new superyacht belonging to a well known Darwin family has quietly berthed at Fort Hill Wharf and is about to join the growing luxury expedition cruise ship market.

Darwin’s internationally renown Paspaley family, Australia’s biggest producer of fine pearls, has taken delivery of the jewel in the crown of its fleet, a purpose-built expedition motor yacht that will carry 30 guests and 21 crew to far flung destinations.

Aptly named, Paspaley Pearl, the vessel was previously operated by Island Escape Cruises in New Zealand and is designed to access islands and ports larger ships cannot reach.

The 53.5-metre, three-deck vessel has undergone a significant $5 million refurbishment to convert it into a luxurious expedition ship that aims to deliver the ultimate adventure and provide guests with the finest food and finest wine and French champagne.

The boat has an indoor restaurant for 32 guests, an outdoor restaurant for 32 guests, three lounges, and three bars, one located near the jacuzzi on the Sun Deck.

There are seven balcony suites on the Horizon Deck, plus an aft al fresco dining, lounge, and bar area equipped with sliding glass doors and screens, allowing it to be used in all weather conditions.

Horizon suite, Paspaley Pearl

The main dining room, bar, and lounge area are on the Ocean Deck.

Also on this deck are eight staterooms and the Marina platform for embarking on expedition tenders, plus water sports such as diving, swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking.

It is understood that the vessel will sail its first Kimberley expedition from Wyndham in Western Australia on July 31.

There has already been strong demand for the inaugural 70-day expedition season through to early October, despite no main launch into trade.

Of the first seven departures in the Kimberley and northern Australia, its is understood that space remains available on just four voyages.

Apart from Darwin, the Paspaley family has strong ties to Broome where it has pearl farms, the Kimberley and Top End waters.

The Kimberley voyages, will be followed by voyages that include Papua New Guinea, East Indonesia, Raja Ampat and Borneo.

Paspaley CEO James Paspaley at Darwin Harbour in Darwin.

Paspaley Group executive director James Paspaley said the company had leveraged the resources and skills of several of its businesses to create the Paspaley Pearl experience.

Paspaley’s expedition cruise ship foray as Pearl Expeditions, is in partnership with former chair of Ponant Explorations Group Sarina Bratton.

Bratton led APAC operations for small ship luxury French line Ponant Expeditions for 11 years and has enormous expedition experience in the region. Orion was groundbreaking, offering the first cruises to East Timor and sailing from Tasmania to Antarctica.

Originally published as The Paspaley Pearl: New local addition to the luxury expedition cruise ship market